Tom Bowman is a member of the Blaine County Commission and vice chairman of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority.
By TOM BOWMAN
A recent letter signed by all four members of the Idaho congressional delegation expresses support for the Federal Aviation Administration's replacement airport study. The letter was addressed to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, whose responsibilities include oversight of the Bureau of Land Management.
The delegation letter said: "We support the thorough and expeditious FAA process and we recognize that full, complete and timely review of the BLM parcel is necessary in order to ascertain its suitability for transfer or sale." The letter went on to note that the BLM property analysis conducted in tandem with the FAA's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will "allow the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, the owner and operator of the existing airport, to make timely decisions about the replacement airport."
The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority board very much appreciates the attention and engagement of the entire delegation on the issues related to future air travel in the Wood River Valley area and the need for a replacement airport.
Independent economic studies associated with the EIS show that commercial air traffic will, at best, remain flat at Friedman into the future. However, with a new airport that is not constrained by our mountains, almost all of the winter weather closures that have long been a fixture at Friedman could be avoided. And, as long as we have the other supporting infrastructure, like hotel capacity and efficient ground transportation, we could see a doubling of commercial passengers in 15 years with long-term opportunities for additional growth.
Another part of the EIS economic analysis predicts that a replacement airport should produce an increase in annual revenues of more than $32 million as a result of new visitor spending, increased economic activity associated with improved air traffic and new employment. Nearly 500 new jobs are projected as a direct result of a replacement airport.
The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority has been working with the Idaho Office of the BLM and Shoshone District Office regarding the replacement airport evaluation, should the new airport be located on Site 10a (in southern Blaine County near Timmerman Hill). We will continue to work with all of the interested parties to develop the best possible analysis that allows us to move forward with a plan that meets the area's current and future needs, promotes commercial service and enhances our economy.
A replacement airport is essential to meet current and future air travel needs in the area. I'm optimistic about the future, and we need to compete for business with an airport capable of supporting more frequent service from new markets with larger aircraft. As Sun Valley becomes rediscovered, we must be prepared for new vacation and business travelers who value predictability and are too busy to hassle with weather diversions and cancellations.
